Measurement of abdominal and visceral fat with computed tomography and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.

These studies were undertaken to compare dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and computed tomography (CT) measurements of abdominal fat and to determine whether anthropometry could be combined with DXA to predict intraabdominal (visceral) fat mass in humans. Twenty-one volunteers underwent abdominal CT scans, DXA, and anthropometry. DXA- and CT-measured total abdominal fat were similar (8448 +/- 5005 and 8066 +/- 5354 mL, respectively; NS) and were highly correlated (r = 0.985, P < 0.001). The combination of anthropometry and DXA was a suboptimal predictor of CT-measured intraabdominal fat (r = 0.61, P < 0.05); however, the combination of a single CT slice (to assess the ratio of intraabdominal to total abdominal adipose tissue) and DXA-measured abdominal fat was an excellent predictor of CT-measured intraabdominal fat (r = 0.98, P < 0.001). We conclude that a single-slice CT scan (or other imaging technique) with or without DXA is required for accurate predictions of intraabdominal fat.

[1]  M. Jensen,et al.  Effects of body fat distribution on regional lipolysis in obesity. , 1991, The Journal of clinical investigation.

[2]  Y. Matsuzawa,et al.  Contribution of intra-abdominal fat accumulation to the impairment of glucose and lipid metabolism in human obesity. , 1987, Metabolism: clinical and experimental.

[3]  E. Ferrannini,et al.  Acute elevation of free fatty acid levels leads to hepatic insulin resistance in obese subjects. , 1987, Metabolism: clinical and experimental.

[4]  P. Björntorp.  "Portal" adipose tissue as a generator of risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. , 1990, Arteriosclerosis.

[5]  L. Sjöström,et al.  Visceral fat accumulation in men is positively associated with insulin, glucose, and C-peptide levels, but negatively with testosterone levels. , 1990, Metabolism: clinical and experimental.

[6]  A. Kissebah,et al.  Receptor and postreceptor effects of free fatty acids (FFA) on hepatocyte insulin dynamics. , 1990, International journal of obesity.

[7]  P C O'Brien,et al.  Assessment of body composition with use of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry: evaluation and comparison with other methods. , 1993, Mayo Clinic proceedings.

[8]  C. Bouchard,et al.  Role of Deep Abdominal Fat in the Association Between Regional Adipose Tissue Distribution and Glucose Tolerance in Obese Women , 1989, Diabetes.

[9]  C. Christiansen,et al.  Measurement of abdominal and intra-abdominal fat in postmenopausal women by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and anthropometry: comparison with computerized tomography. , 1993, International journal of obesity and related metabolic disorders : journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity.

[10]  A. Kissebah,et al.  Relation of Body Fat Distribution to Metabolic Complications of Obesity , 1982 .

[11]  L. Sjöström,et al.  Total and visceral adipose-tissue volumes derived from measurements with computed tomography in adult men and women: predictive equations. , 1988, The American journal of clinical nutrition.

[12]  J. Garrow.  New approaches to body composition. , 1982, The American journal of clinical nutrition.

[13]  A Cederblad,et al.  Determination of total adipose tissue and body fat in women by computed tomography, 40K, and tritium. , 1986, The American journal of physiology.

[14]  L. Sjöström,et al.  Adipose tissue volume determinations in women by computed tomography: technical considerations. , 1986, International journal of obesity.

[15]  A Tremblay,et al.  Sex differences in the relation of visceral adipose tissue accumulation to total body fatness. , 1993, The American journal of clinical nutrition.